Where do we draw the line between substance use and substance abuse?
This week on “It’s Generational” a multigenerational panel of guests gets together to talk about substances – from iced coffees, cigarettes and phone screens to weed, alcohol and the highly addictive opioid fentanyl that is driving up overdose deaths in the U.S.
Panelists include KCBS Radio anchor and reporter Jim Taylor, a baby boomer; astrologer and psychic medium Jessica Lanyadoo, a Gen Xer; and two millennial/Gen Z cuspers – journalist Nic F. Anderson, who is currently a student at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, and Harris Mojadedi, assistant dean at the University of California, Berkeley.
We asked them if different generations gravitate towards different substances:
“Okay, so your question assumes I go out, but I don’t know that that’s happening so much these days for me – which is a lot...of like, living through a plague situation as opposed to just my age,” said Lanyadoo.
“I do typically gravitate towards beers, specifically PBR, and that is definitely the brand. That is a generational thing,” said Anderson, referencing the Pabst Blue Ribbon go-to beer for many millennials.
“I’d say it wasn’t until probably well past 21 years old that I had my first drink,” said Mojadedi, who shared the complexities of navigating his identities as an Afghan-American and member of the LGBTQ+ community. “I’d say if there's two gay stereotypes they embody, it’s definitely iced coffee and a vodka soda.”
“I think it is generational,” said Taylor, expressing his appreciation for California’s legalized marijuana. “I think that before boomers, people generally grew up to be like their parents. And so, they wanted to have a high ball when they came home from work. And that was it.”
Listen on the Audacy app or wherever you find your podcasts.
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